Grammar · Free lesson
This, these, that or those? Point to the right things
You have two tickets in your hand. A second pair is on a shelf across the room. The words you choose should tell your friend which pair you mean.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
For ordinary pointing, use this for one thing near you and these for more than one. Use that for one thing farther away and those for more than one. Match the noun too: this ticket, these tickets, that ticket, those tickets.
Check how many, then check where they are.
Start with one or more than one. This and that go with a singular countable noun; these and those go with a plural noun. For the physical pointing practiced here, this/these present things as near the speaker, while that/those point farther away. In a full statement, match is or are: this ticket is; these tickets are.
Keep the object the same; change number or location.
This ticket is for you.
These tickets are for you.
That ticket is for you.
Those tickets are for you.
The near/far choice is from the speaker’s point of view. The singular/plural choice follows the things you are pointing to.
Point clearly to the two tickets in your hand
Choose the near, plural word
These
Keep the noun plural
These tickets
Complete the statement
These tickets are for you.
Try it now
Point and count before you answer.
Read all answers and explanations
Two tickets are in your hand. Use near-me wording: “___ tickets are for you.”
TheseThese matches two things presented as near you. This and that are singular and do not match tickets.
One ticket is across the room. Use farther-away wording: “___ ticket is for you.”
ThatThat matches one thing farther away. Those and these require a plural countable noun in this pattern.
Point to several cups farther away. Which phrase keeps everything plural?
Those cups are blue.Those, cups and are all match the plural meaning. Cup/is and that would introduce singular forms.
Put it into practice
Keep both tickets near you.
You are holding two tickets. Keep the near-me meaning and the fact that there are two. Repair the sentence.
These ticket is for you.
See a model answer
These tickets are for you.
Fix both the noun and verb while preserving the number and the pointing choice.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Do these words change for masculine or feminine nouns?
No. English does not choose different forms here for the grammatical gender of a thing. With these countable objects, focus on number and the pointing situation.
This ticket is mine. This cup is mine.
What about an uncountable noun such as water?
Use this or that with water when you mean an amount rather than separate countable bottles. Use these or those if you name plural bottles.
This water is cold. These bottles are cold.
Take it into your day
For physical pointing, connect number and distance: this/these near you, that/those farther away. Match the noun and is/are.
Your next step · Available on Udemy
Make small words carry the right meaning.
You’ve practiced pointing to objects clearly. The English Grammar and English Speaking course has a dedicated This, That, These, Those section with Learn it, Review it, Use it and Practice it lessons, within the wider grammar and speaking course.
Explore the course English Master Course: English Grammar and English Speaking